What is the concept of 'forgetting' in queer history? What does it mean to remember or forget something? How can we reconcile this with the idea that memory is inherently flawed and incomplete? How does forgetting affect how we understand ourselves and our place in society? These are some of the philosophical questions posed by scholars who study queer history and culture. In this article, I will explore the impact of forgetting on our understanding of LGBTQ+ identity and experience.
Let's consider what 'remembering' means. Remembering involves recalling past experiences and events, reconstructing them in our minds, and using those memories to inform our present. It also involves creating narratives about ourselves and our communities based on these memories.
Many people construct personal narratives around coming out as gay or transgender, which include stories about family rejection, social isolation, and self-acceptance. These narratives shape our sense of belonging and purpose within larger cultural and historical contexts.
'forgetting' refers to the act of intentionally or unintentionally ignoring or dismissing certain aspects of the past. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including trauma, repression, shame, or simply not having access to information.
Many older generations of LGBTQ+ people may have grown up during times when being openly queer was dangerous or taboo. As a result, they might have suppressed their identities and desires, resulting in gaps in their memories and identities.
Forgetting has significant implications for queer historiography, as it creates gaps and silences in our collective memory. Without full knowledge of our history, we lack the tools to understand how oppression operates and resist it effectively.
Erasure and whitewashing of LGBTQ+ narratives perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to ongoing marginalization. By remembering more fully, we can challenge dominant narratives and create new ones that center queer perspectives.
Remembering is not without its own challenges. Our memories are subject to bias, selectivity, and distortion. We often forget things that don't fit into our preconceived ideas or desires.
Some memories may be too painful or difficult to confront, leading us to push them away or deny them entirely. In this way, memory itself becomes an active process of forgetting.
Queer history must grapple with the complex relationship between remembering and forgetting. It requires us to interrogate our assumptions about what counts as 'authentic' or 'legitimate' memory and recognize that all recollections are inherently incomplete. By doing so, we can engage with the past in ways that honor both individual experiences and cultural legacies while creating more inclusive and equitable futures.
What are the philosophical implications of forgetting within queer history?
The idea of erasure from memory has significant implications for historiography and historical narratives about queer identities, experiences, and communities. In many cases, dominant cultural norms have shaped the ways in which individuals have experienced themselves and their relationships with others, often through repressive attitudes toward non-normative sexuality and gender expression. Therefore, forgetting can have profound effects on how people understand themselves and their social environments.